Transposing key-board for musical instruments



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. GUERNSEY.

TRANSPOSING KEY BOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 276,682. Patented May 1,1883.

FlEl WITNE'SEEE- .lNVENTIlFI- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. J. GUERNSEY.

TRANSPOSING KEY BOARD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 276,682. Patented May 1,1883.

FIE-G FIG? if m I I w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GUERNSEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSPOSING KEY-BOARD FOR MUSlCAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,682, dated May 1,1883.

Application filed January 17, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM JEFFERSONGUERNSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Manuals orFinger-Boards for Organs or Pianos; and I do declare the following to beaiull, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for an organ orpiano by means of which the peri'ormercan instantaneously transpose thekey of any piece, so that while striking or playing upon the notes aswritten he or she is actually playing one or more notes higher or lower;or the manual can be set so as to play the piece actually as written.

My invention is a temporary attachment; and it consists of an adjustablemanual or finger-board, which is supported on a rod directly over theregular or fixed manual of the instrument, and is provided withprojections on the lower side of the keys, which bear directly upon theblack keys of the lower or fixed manual, and indirectly upon the whitekeys of the same by means of intermediate loose blocks.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe under side of the manual or finger-board. Fig. 3 is an end view ofmy invention, showing it applied to the keys of an organ. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section of a series of keys representing one octaveof an organ, showing the keys of my invention adjusted to play two noteslower than the music is written. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one ofthe bearingblocks. Fi (i is a perspective view of an orgen, showing' myinvention in position for playing. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thesame, showing the manual thrown back to form a book-rest, and at thesame time to permit a person to play directly upon the keys of theorgan.

1, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a light frame of any suitable dimensions, openalong the front side,

in which are inserted the white and black keys G and H. The said keysare pivoted to the back part of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3, and areprovided on their lower sides with projections J, which pass through alongitudinal opening, K, Figs. 2 and 3, made in the bottom part of theframe. The front part of the frame I is supported so as to turn upon arod, L, which has its ends secured in two blocks, M M, Figs. 1, 2, 6,and 7. These blocks are each made in two sections and hinged together,with the inner sections secured to the organ on the right and left ofthe keys.

N, Figs. 1, 2, and 7, is a light wooden bar connected to the foldingparts of the blocks M M, and extending underneath the frame I to serveas a. brace to the rod L and to prevent the loose blocks from movingoutward, and also act as a stop to retain the music-book in positionwhen the manual is thrown back to form arcst, as shown in Fig. 7.

0, Figs. 3, at, and 5, are a set of bearingblocks corresponding inwidth, length, and thickness with the projection of the black keys overthe white.

The keys G and H of the movable manual are without levers, being simplykey-lengths, and are several less in number than those of the instrumentin order to allow .of its being moved to the right or left so manynotes. The projections J on these keys bear directly upon the black keysof the lower or fixed manual and upon the intermediate blocks, 0, whichare placed upon the back portion of the white keys between the blackones, thus rendering the bearings equal upon both. If it is desirable toplay any piece in the key in which it is written withoutremoving theadjustable manual, it may be placed so that its keys bear upon thecorresponding ones of the fixed manual, C over G, I) over D, E over F,&c.; but should the performer wish to play a piece in a lower key thanthat in which it is written, the adjustable manual must be moved to theleft upon the lower or fixed manual, as shown in Fig. 4, so that whilestriking or playing upon the notes as written he is actually playing oneor two or more notes lower. Thus, if a person desires to sing a songwhich is written three notes beyond his compass of voice, he can, bymoving the adjustable manual so many notes ICQ to the left, play theaccompaniment exactly as written, yet find the song as effectuallytransposed as if rewritten.

1%,Fig. 1, is a scale attached to the front part of the movable manualto designate the position of the said manual in relation to the lower orfixed manual, to enable the performer to adjust the manual as many noteslower or higher as he may desire.

What I claim as my invention is- The combination, in an adjustablemanual or finger-board for an organ or piano, of a frame, I, keys G andH, projections J, rod L, blocks M M, bar N, and bearing-block 0,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony WhereofI have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM JEFFERSON G UERNSE'Y.

\Vitnesses:

Guns. 2 MORGAN, ISAAC R. OAKFORD.

